SIM Cards, Vouchers, and Activated Plan SIM Cards to be available at the Airport

[Mana]

Hello,

Every now and then I have noticed a few post where poeple visiting Canada wanting to sign up and use Public Mobile service during their visit.

However, as we all know this may be a difficult task since SIM card are not available to them as soon as they arrive.

So that is why I was thinking, why not have the :

SIM cards

voucher and

maybe pre-activated sim cards with simple plans available at the airport?

This may be made available at a Tim Hortons at the airport or something similar.

The reason I am saying pre-activated sim cards with simple plans is that some users may not have the knowlegde or patience to activate a sim cards and pick a plan and go through the entire process at the airport.  So offering a simple pre-activated sim card may be a good idea. 

I am sure something can be programmed in the pre-activated sim cards so that the first time you insert or enable the sim card, you enter a code provided inside the package and it lets you choose a new number or something similar.

By providing one or all of these options, it will make it easier for the visitors to use PM service, and for PM it is another way to get some more customers.

[ute1978]

I totally agree and find it a good idea, but I think PM is more interested in long-term customers rather than customers who activate a sim card and then leave the country after a few weeks.

[xCameron94x]

Not sure if this is true or not, i havent been to an airport in a while, but I dont think you can get a Canadian Sim at Pearson for example, maybe you can in another airport, or another province.

Now with sims being able to be picked up at Wal-mart and WoW. and lets face it, tourists may be attracted to the big malls in Canada (Edmonton west mall, Eaton centre, Square one), it is easier to get a SIM, just harder to activate it, because they need to buy a voucher. And if some dont have the patience for that, they may just either use their carrier to roam, or buy a pre-paid plan with another provider

[paulie]

Closest Walmart to Pearson Airport is here....

7333 Goreway Dr, Mississauga, ON L4T 2T8

Open from 7 AM to 11pm.

🙂     

[Acekiller]

preactivated sim card is not bad for travaller, but i wouldn't recommend regular sim cards... given the (lack of) CSR, by the time they figure out how to get help, their trip is over.

[srlawren]

I was thinking the same thing as @ute1978.  As convenient as that would be for travellers, it's hard to see the upside for PM.  I think the costs (stocking, training, supporting) and hassle (mostly in supporting) probably outweight the potential visitor revenue.

[Mana]

Thanks for your feedback everyone.

I think all big cities around the world do have sim cards boths or capability of purchasing sim cards right at the airport.

I think even at Pearson, Fido offers sim cards.

As a traveller when you arrive at the airport, you may want the sim card right then and there and may not want to drive to a close by Walmart or mall to find a WoW moblile kiosk.

I know this is not to attract a big market, however, from a pre-paid service point of view, I think it is still a good idea.

Plus those customers may not use all the service and may pay for more service then needed, so its good revenue.

[Michael77]

I agree with @ute1978.

[infielder6]

I think I saw chatr when I was at the airport last month. If that was converted to a WOW shop instead, problem solved.